Volunteer Callout: Thaalam 2014

Volunteer Callout: Thaalam 2014

On Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 the Arts and Culture Council of CTYA will be hosting Thaalam, the Ultimate Gaana Competition at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s John Bassett Theatre. Thaalam is an evening where entertainment, unity, support and effort unite. It serves as a platform to encourage the dance talents of our Tamil youth. In addition, all funds generated from Thaalam are allocated towards the initiation of a recreation and innovation centre for Tamil youth.

We are calling upon volunteers to assist in the preparations for Thaalam 2014. Volunteers will work with the event coordinators and assist in tasks such as ticket distribution, program and event coordination, sponsorship, promotions, poster distribution, decorations and designs. Volunteer hours will be provided.

We look forward to working with excited and committed volunteers in putting together Thaalam to ensure another successful competition.

Interested individuals are asked to contact the volunteer coordinating committee at senthoori@ctya.orgor 647-470-2892. All volunteers will be invited to attend a volunteer orientation meeting.

Recommenda​tions of OHCHR to the 25th session of UNHRC

Recommendations:

74. The High Commissioner recommends that the Human Rights Council establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and monitor any domestic accountability processes. OHCHR stands ready to assist in such a process.

75. The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Sri Lanka:

(a) Finalize laws dealing with incitement to hatred, witness and victim protection, the right to information and the criminalization of enforced disappearances, and revise existing laws in accordance with international standards;
(b) Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and lift the regulations promulgated under it that allow for arbitrary detention; (c) Arrest, prosecute and punish perpetrators of attacks on minority communities, media and human rights defenders, and ensure protection of victims; (d) Undertake independent and credible criminal and forensic investigations with international assistance into all alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including recently discovered mass graves; (e) Establish a truth-seeking mechanism and national reparations policy in accordance with international standards as an integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice; (f) Broaden the scope and tenure of the Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances to encompass cases from all parts of the island and all periods of the history of disappearances; (g) Publish the final report of the military courts of inquiry, the presidential commission of inquiry of 2006 and the more recent commissions of inquiry to allow the evidence gathered to be evaluated; (h) Take further steps in demilitarization, ensure military disengagement from activities that are meant to be civilian, resolve land disputes and promote meaningful community participation in reconstruction and development; (i) Engage civil society and minority community representatives more fully in an inclusive and consultative process to support the implementation of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission; (j) Implement the Commission’s recommendation for a national day of commemoration, allow all citizens their right to hold individual or group commemorations, and hold national consultations on the design of appropriate memorialization for the victims of the war;

(k) Give positive consideration to the offers of technical assistance made by the Office of the High Commissioner;

(l) Invite special procedures mandate holders with outstanding requests to visit the country in 2014, particularly the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Independent Expert on minority issues.

Tamil Youth Organization Canada Hosts Tamil Rights Week Conference

Tamil Youth Organization Canada hosted an educational conference, for the closing of Tamil Rights Week 2014. This conference was about the ongoing Eezham Tamil Genocide in TamilEelam and as youth what steps should be taken to progress forward in the recognizing the political aspirations of Eelam Tamils. Representatives from Tamil Student Associations from High schools and University/Colleges in Canada participated in this conference.

Naaventhan Thambirajah from Tamil Youth Organization-Canada presented the history of the state genocidal oppression and the necessity for the evolution of the resistance movement.

Following the history presentation, Dr.Denis Halliday, Former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and a Laureate of the Gandhi International Peace Award, spoke about the necessity for the Tamil Youth to lobby state actors to use the word Genocide, instead of playing down the reality of the situation.

After Dr. Denis Halliday, TYO member Yaarly Thambirajah presented about the crucial role social media played in educating people about the Tamil Struggle. She touched how much social media interconnects people and the possibilities of a strong unified social media campaigns that could be successfully executed if social media resources were used efficiently.

Lavaniya Rajah spoke about the ongoing structural genocide in the post 2009 scenario. She pointed out that the current military occupation and encouragement of Sinhala settlements has completely destroyed the livelihood of the Tamils in Tamileelam. She also emphasized that more than 60% of the Sri Lankan armed forces are present in the North which the Sri Lankan government is refusing to remove since the post 2009 era.

The event concluded with Thushitha Kobikrishna, who facilitated a discussion on the crucial role Tamil Youths played in the post 2009 era. Students discussed the active role students need to take individually and collectively as organizations.

TYO member Shankari Srithayakumar stated, “As Eelam Tamil youth, we will never sacrifice or compromise our homeland, identity, roots, and history for anything or anyone. We will unite to end this horrific genocide against the Eezham tamils in TamilEelam, and will obtain a sovereign nation, our homeland TamilEelam. It is time that the voices of the youth are heard for the justice of our people.”

Submit Your Work to www.tamilyouth.ca!

Interested in submitting your writing, artwork and videos to be published on www.tamilyouth.ca? Email us at blogs@ctya.org!

Invitation to Ottawa Thamizh Heritage Month Showcase Event

A message from all Ottawa Thamizh Organization for Tamil Heritage Month

Our Mayor Hon. Jim Watson and City of Ottawa has Proclaimed the Month of January as Thamizh Heritage Month.

Our Mayor Hon. Jim Watson sent his Pongal Greetings to the Tamil Community of Ottawa.

In celebrating the ThaiPongal and the Thamizh Heritage Month, all the Thamizh organizations in Ottawa are coming together and holding many events through out the month of January.

All Thamizh Organizations of Ottawa would like invite Your Family & Friends to OTTAWA THAMIZH HERITAGE MONTH SHOWCASE event. Please wear Traditional Thamizh Clothing to this event.

This year’s Thamizh Heritage Month Showcase event will be held on Saturday, January 18th from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm in the 2nd floor Concourse at the Barrhaven Walter Baker Centre, 100 Malvern Drive, Ottawa, ON K2J 2G5.

The event organizers would like to extend a warm invitation to all of the Thamizh Community of Ottawa to attend this Thamizh Showcase event in large numbers and share in our sense of pride in celebrating our Thamizh Heritage.

The event will showcase information on Thamizh history and heritage, Thamizh musical instruments and talents, Thamizh handcrafts and sample of Thamizh food and many more.

Please bring your friends and neighbors to experience the richness of our Thamizh Heritage.

Muththamizh Kalamandram is holding its Pongal Peruvizha (Harvesting Festival) on the Saturday, February 01, 2014 at 2:30 PM at the Kailash Mitel Theatre of Carleton University.

http://ncrta.ca/tamilheritagemonth/2014/2014_Ottawa_Invitation_for_Thamizh_Heritage_Month_Showcase_full.pdf

http://ncrta.ca/tamilheritagemonth/2014/2014_Ottawa_ThaiPongal_Greetings_from_Mayor_Jim_Watson.pdf

http://ncrta.ca/tamilheritagemonth/2014/2014_Ottawa_Tamil_Heritage_Month_Proclamation_by_Mayor_Jim_Watson.pdf

http://ncrta.ca/tamilheritagemonth/2014/2014_Ottawa_PongalVizha_Muththamizh_Kalamandram.jpg

http://ncrta.ca/tamilheritagemonth/

MacTSA Presents Ennuyire, A Raja Rani Love Story Formal!

A message from MacTSA:

Come join us for the FIRST TSA formal of 2014, an Arabian Night filled with AMAZING performances, decadent food, and music that will leave you dancing ALL night long!

Facebook Event Page

Tickets:
Regular Price $50

Doors Open: 6:30 PM SHARP
Doors Close: 9:00 PM SHARP

NOTE: Please bring valid student ID and government ID when purchasing ALL tickets. You may buy tickets for your friends, as long as BOTH IDs are shown at the time of purchase (photocopies or pictures are acceptable)

Dress Code:
Gentlemen suit-up and ladies wrap-up in those sarees! Dress to impress!

TYO-Canada Celebrates Thai Pongal 2014!

A message from TYO-Canada

You are cordially invited to Tamil Youth Organization – Canada’s Thai Pongal and Tamil New Year Celebration. Thai pongal is celebrated on the first day of the month Thai on the Tamil calendar. It is known as Tamil new year and also as a harvest festival which is celebrated on the 14th of January on the international calendar. Thai is the Tamil month of January and Pongal means “boiling over” or “spill over.”

Thai Pongal is dedicated to worship Surya, the Sun God. Before sunrise, everyone in the family wakes up, showers, wear their new clothes, and gather in front of the garden to make the pongal. The entrance of the house is decorated with colourful kolams in different shapes and sizes. It is made using rice flour and colouring, this practice was traditionally for small insects to feed on. Pongal is celebrated by boiling rice with fresh milk and jaggery in new pots. The rice is later topped with brown sugar, cashew nuts and raisins. As you watch the milk boil over, it is considered as good luck. The newly cooked rice is traditionally offered to the Sun God at sunrise to demonstrate appreciation for the harvest. It is later served to the people present in the house for the ceremony.

We would like to come together and celebrate our beautiful Tamil holiday. It will be a fun filled evening with lots of activities, performances and food! Make sure you don’t miss out and do spread the word to your friends and family. Everyone is welcome! The dress code is cultural where girls can either wear paavada sattais, half sarees or sarees and guys wear vettis. Hope to see you all there!